Vehicle Towing

Policy: Vehicle Towing

Author: Chief Joseph M. Hallman

WILEAG Standard: N/A

Issue Date: January 17, 2017

Reviewed Date: April 15, 2026

Revised Date: April 15, 2026

 

Purpose:

The purpose of this document is to establish guidelines for towing vehicles that need to be removed from University property.

Policy:

It is the policy of the UW-Platteville Police Department to tow certain vehicles determined to be abandoned, disabled, damaged, seized for evidentiary purposes, recovered as stolen or otherwise in need of being transported to a place of safekeeping, to correct a traffic hazard, or to eliminate a public nuisance. Towing of these vehicles shall be accomplished in accordance with this policy, Wis. Stat. UWS18.05(5), and Wisconsin statutes.  The University is not responsible for any damage incurred due to towing.

Definitions:

  1. Abandoned Vehicle- as defined by Wis. Stat. §342.40.
  2. Illegally Parked Vehicle- any vehicle that is parked in an area subject to University of Wisconsin-Platteville parking regulations, while not in accordance with those regulations.
  3. Vehicle- as defined by Wis. Stat. §340.01(74).

Procedures:

  1. Abandoned Vehicle Towing
    1. Unless there is an immediate danger or health hazard present, abandoned vehicles will only be towed after authorization from the Chief of Police or designee. 
      1. Vehicles may be considered a hazard depending on the time of day, relationship to roadway, weather conditions, or inability to contact the registered owner/ driver.  Officer discretion may be used in these circumstances whether or not to immediately tow the vehicle from the scene
    2. Officers assigned a complaint of an abandoned vehicle shall check the vehicle for wants/stolen status and should make a reasonable attempt to contact the owner and resolve the situation.
    3. Upon determining a vehicle is abandoned, officers shall complete an offense report listing the last registered owner or current owner, if identified, as a suspect. The license plate number and vehicle identification number shall also be included in the offense report.  The vehicle shall be cited with a citation note that the vehicle will be towed. If the assigned officer is not on first shift, the officer shall forward a copy to the Sergeant, who will assign the complaint for follow up.
    4. If the current owner cannot be contacted the report will be forwarded to the Chief or designee.  The last registered owner or person determined to be the current owner, shall be notified by certified mail by the police department, that (s)he must claim the vehicle within 30 days. Unclaimed vehicles may be disposed of by the police department after 30 days in accordance with applicable administrative codes and state statutes.
  2. Arrest Towing
    1. When an officer makes a custodial arrest of a person in or with his/her motor vehicle and the vehicle has no evidentiary value, the officer should safeguard the person's vehicle or property by requesting dispatch contact the first available towing service to tow the vehicle except under circumstances where:
      1. The vehicle is released to another party at the scene who is not intoxicated and who possesses a valid driver's license. The owner/operator under arrest must consent to the release of the vehicle to that person.
      2. The vehicle was stopped and would remain parked on property owned, leased, or rented by the person arrested or the property owner gives consent for the vehicle to be secured at that location.
      3. Should the owner/operator of the vehicle request a specific towing company, that company must be able to respond within 20 minutes, or the next available wrecker will be called.
    2. Parking and securing the arrested person's vehicle in a permit required area, without the proper permit, is not allowed.
    3. When an officer takes a vehicle operator into physical custody for any reason, the vehicle is being towed, and there are other occupants in the vehicle, the officer shall attempt to make reasonable arrangements for the other occupants to reach their destination. Officers shall not transport these persons under normal circumstances. However, officers should attempt to make arrangements through the dispatch center for a third party or commercial carrier to come to the scene, if requested by the passengers. The disposition of the arrested person's vehicle subsequent to an arrest shall be documented in the officer's written report.
  3. Evidence and Impounded Vehicle Towing
    1. Vehicles seized or impounded shall be towed to a location designated by University Police. An evidence form must be completed for all seized or impounded vehicles and the original of the form shall be left with the vehicle.
    2. Vehicles seized for evidentiary purposes or otherwise impounded shall be accompanied by an officer from the point of seizure until secured to ensure the chain of custody.
    3. Vehicle seizures under this section shall be documented in the officer's written report of the incident.
    4. Vehicles seized as evidence shall only be released by the Chief of Police or designee with the consent of the investigating officer and the district attorney's office.
    5. The Chief or Sergeant must be notified immediately, when a vehicle is being towed due to seizure or for evidentiary purposes.
  4. Recovered Stolen Vehicle Towing
    1. Other jurisdictions reporting stolen vehicles later recovered on University of Wisconsin-Platteville property shall immediately be notified of the recovery.  This can be by telephone or teletype.  The reporting agency shall provide a requested disposition of the vehicle including any special handling instructions such as:
      1. Hold the vehicle for evidence or fingerprinting.
      2. The owner will pick up the vehicle at the scene if unreasonable delay will not result.
      3. The vehicle should be towed, including the vehicle owner's preference for a towing service, if known.
    2. The disposition of a vehicle stolen from and recovered on UW-Platteville property shall be determined through department records or through the assigned officer.
    3. Vehicles held for evidence or fingerprinting shall be processed in accordance with Section C.  The vehicle's release will be through the Chief or Sergeant, with the consent of the investigating officer for the jurisdiction originally reporting the vehicle as stolen.
    4. Vehicles not held for evidentiary purposes but not immediately released to the owner shall be processed in accordance with Section E as an impounded vehicle and shall be taken to a location designated by University Police.
  5. Vehicle Inventories
    1. In order to safeguard citizens' property, protect the University from false claims of misconduct and to ensure the safety of officers from potentially hazardous instrumentalities, officers shall thoroughly inventory all vehicles (including boats, trailers, mobile homes, etc.) towed in accordance with Sections A through Section D.
    2. Officers who seize a vehicle for evidentiary purposes and obtain a search warrant, shall conduct the vehicle inventory concurrent with the execution of the search warrant.
    3. This inventory shall encompass the entire vehicle accessible by key including the passenger compartment, glove box and trunk.  All containers, whether locked or unlocked, shall be opened and their contents examined if accessible by key or other means without causing damage.
      1. If no key is available and locations cannot be checked without causing damage, the officer shall document the areas not searched and the reason why.
    4. All property located of apparent value or potentially hazardous instrumentalities shall be recorded in a written report and secured.
  6. Accident and Traffic Hazard Towing
    1. Officers investigating accidents or who encounter a disabled vehicle where towing services are required, shall ask the owner/operator at the scene if they have a preference for towing services. Towing services with a typical response time of 20 minutes or less will be summoned at the request of the owner/operator.
    2. Vehicles disabled in an accident or mechanically disabled may be left at the scene for later repair or removal by owner if:
      1. The owner/operator makes such a request.
      2. The vehicle is legally parked or is placed on private property with the consent of the property owner.
      3. The vehicle does not otherwise present a hazard to the public or the safe movement of traffic.
    3. If no preference for towing services is stated, if the owner/operator is not at the scene, or if the requested towing service is not within a 20-minute response time, the first available towing service will be contacted.
  7. Illegally Parked Vehicle Towing
    1. Vehicles parked illegally on University of Wisconsin-Platteville property may be towed for many reasons.  Towable violations include, but are not limited to the following:
      1. Vehicle is parked in an area that would obstruct emergency vehicle access to university buildings and grounds (e.g. blocking fire lane).
      2. Blocking vehicle or pedestrian traffic ways.
      3. Parking in no parking zones where hazards exist.
      4. Unauthorized vehicles in a permit area.
      5. Parking in a reserved stall or disabled stall/access aisle.
      6. Parking that impedes progress of necessary maintenance or service projects (snow removal, paving, trash pick-up, etc.)
      7. Parking illegally in a designated tow-zone (all of campus is tow zone).
      8. The vehicle's driver has unpaid parking citations.
        1. Total unpaid University parking citation amounts greater than $300 or vehicles with suspended registration due to unpaid parking citations issued by UW-Platteville.
        2. Vehicles towed due to unpaid parking citations will not be released until ALL outstanding University citations are paid.
      9. Parking illegally with license or vehicle identification number covered, unreadable, or missing.
      1. Tows may be performed on vehicles leaking gas, oil, antifreeze, etc., or vehicles is in the way of unforeseen danger, i.e., flooding.
      2. The vehicle displays a permit that has been reported stolen.
      3. The vehicle displays an altered/forged/counterfeit permit.
      4. When a vehicle is parked on university grounds/sidewalks.
      5. When a vehicle parks, or remains parked in a closed parking lot.
      6. A vehicle with a license plate that does not match the vehicle registration (stolen or illegally transferred plates).
  8. Special Event Towing
    1. University of Wisconsin-Platteville hosts a variety of events, which require full access to parking stalls and lots.  Advanced notice of these events is made, allowing persons to move vehicles out of the event area.  If a vehicle remains in an event area, it may be towed, at owner expense, to facilitate the needs of the event.
  9. Snow Emergency Towing
    1. Vehicles may be towed when illegally parked, in violation of a snow emergency declaration.
    2. UW-Platteville has two types of snow emergencies.
      1. Snow emergency for streets is in effect from 2am-6am, on the designated dates, when there is an anticipated snow accumulation or when repeated snowfalls accumulate, requiring a need for clearing of streets.
        1. During a snow emergency, alternate side parking is in effect.  Vehicles parked on the incorrect side of the street, will be cited and towed to a location determined by University Police.
        2. Vehicles towed during a snow emergency must be retrieved within 48 hours or additional parking citations may be issued.
      2. Snow emergency for parking lots is declared when there is a need to clear parking lots.
        1. During a snow emergency, specified parking lots or sections of parking lots will be closed to allow for snow removal.  Vehicles remaining in the closed areas will be cited and may be towed to a location determined by University Police.
Print Article